Hugo Kortschak

Hugo Kortschak
Hugo Kortschak
Born	Hugo Kortschak February 24, 1884(1884-02-24) Graz, Austria
Died	September 19, 1957(1957-09-19) (aged 73) Honolulu, Hawaii, USA =
Nationality	Austrian - American
Citizenship	United States
Occupation	Violinist
Organization	Chicago Symphony Orchestra Yale University Manhattan School of Music
Spouse	Alice Plaut (1884–1972)
Children	Alice Kortschak (1909–1995) Hugo Kortschak (1911–1983)

Hugo Kortschak (28 February 1884 – 19 September 1957), was an Austrian-born American violinist who was the assistant concertmaster of the Chicago Symphony from 1908 to 1916, founding member of the Berkshire String Quartet, and Dean of Music at Yale University.

The Berkshire String Quartet was founded when music patroness Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge persuaded Kortschak to move his quartet from Chicago to Pittsfield, Massachusetts, where its members could focus exclusively on chamber music.

Kortschak was an owner of several fine violins, including:

In 1914: a Joseph Guarnerius violin, once the property of the Crown Treasurer of Spain;^[1] and
Period of ownership unknown: Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù, 1739c
From 1925 to 1957: a 1698 Stradivarius violin, once owned by Joseph Joachim

Kortschak was a key figure in organizing the Berkshire Chamber Music Festival founded by Coolidge. The original Berkshire String Quartet disbanded sometime after 1941.

Honors

Kortschak is a recipient of the Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge Medal for "eminent services to chamber music."

References

^ The Violin I Use, and Why I Like It, The Violinist, Vol. 17, No. 3, June 1914, pg. 25, Violinist Publishing Company, Chicago

Persondata
Name	Kortschak, Hugo
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	24 February 1884
Place of birth	Graz, Austria
Date of death	19 September 1957
Place of death	Honolulu, Hawaii, USA =